Cyclic circuit interrupter means for low voltage flasher lamp devices



July 14, 1959 S HlGEMlTSU SUY-ETANI Filed May 10, 1955 -T -n I L L-,'-Z\ r\- I i i 5 5/4/65/14/7'51/ SUVETQ/V/ INVENTOR.

A; AWTQQ/VEV United States Patent CYCLIC CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER MEANS FOR LOW VOLTAGE FLASHER LAMP DEVICES Shigemitsu Suyetani, San Fernando, Calif.

Application May 10, 1955, Serial No. 507,237

1 Claim. (Cl. 315-226) This invention relates to flasher light devices and more particularly to portable flasher light devices and has for its object the provision of an improved cyclic circuit interrupter means for low voltage flasher light devices of the portable type.

Another object is to provide a cyclic circuit interrupter means for low voltage incandescent filament flasher light devices that is adapted for wide utility in portable flasher light devices.

Another object is to provide a relatively safe portable flasher light device.

Still another object is to provide a low voltage incandescent filament flasher light device that is safe to handle, rugged in construction, reliable in operation over a long service life, relatively low in cost, highly efficient and capable of wide utility in the art.

Other objects will be apparent as the invention is more fully hereinafter disclosed.

In accordance with these objects I have devised a low voltage incandescent filament flasher light circuit including a cyclic circuit interrupter means which is adapted for wide utility in the manufacture of flasher light devices to produce such devices that are relatively safe to handle, rugged in construction, highly efficient, reliable in operation and of relatively low cost. In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated two specific embodiments of the low voltage incandescent filament flasher light circuit of the present invention, said embodiments being given by way of example but not by way of limitation on the broad scope of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a wiring diagram illustrating the preferred low voltage incandescent filament flasher light circuit including the cyclic circuit interrupter means of the present invention which is adapted for wide utility in the manutacture of flasher light devices; and

Fig. 2 is an alternative low voltage incandescent filament circuit including such a cyclic circuit interrupter means which is adapted to produce substantially the same result as the circuit of Fig. 1.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the electrical circuit shown therein is one energized by a storage battery B which in this specific example consists of a 6 volt dry battery common in the art.

In this circuit the current from the battery B is passed through a lamp L and a cyclic interrupter means M (enclosed in dotted box lines) with the lamp L and means M connected electrically in parallel. The cyclic interrupter means M of the present invention is one designed to repeatedly interrupt the current flow through the lamp L at determined time intervals. In the instant specific example this time interval has arbitrarily been set for 60 times per minute.

The cyclic interrupter means M of the present invention consists of an electromagnetic coil D with its armature A, a condenser C and resistance R. The armature A is mechanically connected to double pole switch S in such manner as to maintain the switch S in the closed "ice position shown when the field coil D is de-energized and to actuate the switch S to open position when the field coil D is energized.

The field coil D and the condenser C are connected electrically in parallel to carry the current from one of the switch arms E through the resistance R back to the battery B. The other switch arm E is connected electrically in series with the filament F of the lamp L to carry the current of the battery B.

It is believed apparent from the circuit arrangement shown that when the switch arms E and B are in the closed position shown the closure of switch G permits the current from battery B to pass simultaneously through the lamp L and the cyclic interrupter means M, to energize the lamp L and the field coil D of the interrupter means M and to charge condenser C. When the electromagnetic field force of the coil F reaches the intensity required to move the armature A to open the switch arms E and E the current flow in the two parallel connected circuits is broken but the electrical charge in condenser C operates to maintain the energization of the field coil D for a determined time interval depending on the capacity of the condenser C. At the end of this time interval the armature returns to first position closing switch arms E and E to re-energize the two said parallel connected electric circuits and the operation is repeated on a determined time cycle for an indefinite time period depending on the life of the battery B or until switch means G is opened.

The incandescent filament F of the lamp L requires a determined time period to Warm up to its maximum temperature. To obtain this time period switch arm E is so arranged by means of an adjustable contact H as to close ahead of switch arm E on the return of armature A to first position. A spring tension means T also is provided to insure the return of the switch arms E and E to first position upon the release of armature A by the de-energized field coil D. In place of one lamp L a plurality of lamps L can be connected electrically in parallel as indicated in dotted lines.

The electrical circuit shown in Fig. 1 is one designed to operate from one to a plurality of lamps L of the type known in the art as the 5 to 6 volt incandescent filament lamps on an interruption cycle of 60 times per minute from a 6 volt battery B. To accomplish this result I use a double pole relay switch device known in the art as a D.P.S.T., normally closed, sensitive type, with a field force of 300 ohms and electrically connect a condenser C electrically in parallel with the field coil of the said relay in conformity with the electrical circuit of Fig. l and connect this relay and condenser in series with a resistance R. The condenser C is a 1000 mid, 6 WVDC condenser and the resistance R is one having a resistance of 15 ohms plus or minus 10%.

Increasing the capacity of condenser C will decrease the cyclic rate of current interruption while decreasing the capacity of condenser C will increase the cyclic rate of current interruption.

Increasing the resistance of resistance R will prolong the relay field build-up time and prolong the time period during which the switch arms E and E remain in closed position. This increases the time period for heating filament F to incandescence. Decreasing the resistance of resistance R shortens this time period.

Lamp L can be of any size within the voltage rating of battery 3 and the total number of lamps L is limited by the optimum drain rate of the battery.

It is believed apparent that by increasing the voltage of battery B larger lamps L can be used with appropriate changes in the values of C and R.

One of the major advantages of the low voltage incandescent filament circuit of the present invention, as

illustrated in Fig. 1, is that a flasher signal device in corporating the same is safe to handle in all kinds of weather. Another advantage is that the incandescent filament lamp produces a bright light capable of being focused and projected by suitable focusing and projecting means heretofore known in the art.

Still another advantage is that the component parts of the circuit are low cost standard parts available in the art and of known durability and electrical characteristics.

Tests made on flasher light devices constructed in accordance with the circuit of Fig. 1 have indicated that the cyclic interrupter means of the present invention can be expected to last indefinitely and with practically no maintenance costs in the absence of accidental injuries.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the circuit shown therein is one wherein the resistance R in the circuit of Fig. 1 has been eliminated and the necessary time interval to Warm the filament F of the lamp L to its maximum temperature is obtained in a different way. In this arrangement it can be noted that on closing switch G the current from the battery B passes directly to the field coil D and condenser C (connected electrically in parallel) and to the nomally closed switch arm E of the switch S thence through filament F of the lamp L and back to the opposite side of the battery B. The current continues to flow in this circuit until the condenser C is charged to its maximum capacity at which it offers more resistance than does the field coil F thus energizing the field coil to a field strength actuating the armature A to move switch arm E from the first (closed) position shown to its second (open) position and interrupting the current flow through the filament F.

The condenser C discharging through the field coil D over a determined time interval holds the armature A in this position against the action of spring tension means T until the field strength in the coil F is reduced to the value releasing the armature A. The spring means T returns the switch arm E to first position and the cycle is repeated.

By varying the capacity of condenser C the time interval of curent flow through lamp L may be varied widely to provide substantially any desired warm-up period for filament F and interrupting cycle. When a plurality of lamps L are connected electrically in parallel as indicated in dotted line, the capacity of condenser C must be increased to that permitting lamp L to heat up to maximum temperature before the current induces a field strength actuating the armature A. In this event a variable resistance R is provided to provide means for shortening the time interval of condenser discharge thereby to control the frequency of the cyclic rate of lamp energization.

While the two circuits accomplish substantially the same operating result, the circuit of Fig. 1 is preferred for the reason that the incorporation of resistance R in the circuit provides a more positive control over the warm-up time for the filament F and a more positive control over the cycle of current interruption. In most flasher lamp devices this is a desirable feature.

Having hereinabove disclosed the present invention generically and specifically and having given two specific embodiments thereof, it is believed apparent that the invention may be widely varied without essential deparure therefrom to adapt same to wide utility in the art of flasher lamp devices :and all such modifications and adaptations thereof are contemplated as may fall within the scope of the following claim:

What I claim is:

In a low voltage incandescent filament lamp flasher device, the improvement which comprises a double pole turc therefrom to adapt same to wide utility in the art switch, spring means biasing said switch to closed position, a solenoid actuated armature and means connecting the armature to the said switch to actuate the switch to open position in opposition to said spring biasing means, a low voltage battery, a low voltage incandescent filament lamp, means electrically connecting the solenoid of said solenoid actuated armature and said lamp in parallel with said battery through one pole of said switch to provide a solenoid energizing circuit, means electrically connecting the said lamp and said battery in series through the other pole of said switch to provide a lamp energizing circuit and an adjustable contact means on said other pole to provide for the energizing of said lamp energizing circuit a time interval ahead of the energizing of said solenoid energizing circuit on the spring biased return of the said switch to closed position, the time interval being selected to provide for the filament of said lamp to heat up to incandescence before the closing of said solenoid energizing circuit with consequent return of said switch to open position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,717,785 Kaehni et a1. June 18, 1926 1,907,279 Bloorrrberg May 2, 1933 2,038,960 Schattanik Apr. 28, 1936 2,208,125 Feingold July 16, 1940 2,432,270 Boswau Dec. 9, 1947 2,473,683 Hines June 21, 1949 2,714,200 Teegarden July 26, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 603,555 Great Britain June 17, 1948 

